On politics in the Golden State

Fiorina dumps another $1 million into Senate campaign

October 22, 2010 | 12:44
pm

As President Obama arrived in Los Angeles to raise money for Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and rally the party faithful on the USC campus, Boxer’s Republican opponent Carly Fiorina announced that she has loaned another $1 million of her own money to her campaign.

After outspending Fiorina 2-to-1 in the third quarter, Boxer has maintained a slender lead in the polls -- 43% to 38% among likely voters in a Public Policy Institute of California survey released this week. (In September’s PPIC poll, Boxer led Fiorina by seven points).

Before Fiorina's new donation, campaign finance reports covering the period between Oct. 1 and Oct. 13 showed Boxer with $2.27 million in cash on hand to Fiorina's $1.27 million.

Over that period, Fiorina raised $1.4 million to Boxer's $1.1 million. Overall, Boxer has raised $26.4 million for her reelection campaign to Fiorina's $17.9 million. (Before now, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive’s contributions to her own campaign were limited to a $5.5-million loan during the GOP primary, most of which she has since forgiven.)

But Boxer’s coffers will get a boost from Obama’s visit, which is part of a West Coast swing to help Democratic candidates. After the luncheon for Boxer and the Democratic National Committee rally, he will head to Nevada for a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. First Lady Michelle Obama will host an event for Boxer with Jill Biden in Los Angeles next week.

The line to get into Obama’s rally at Alumni Park on the USC campus snaked for blocks Friday morning. Hundreds of students and supporters spread across the sun-soaked lawn, erupting into cheers about 11:45 a.m. when Marine One flew overhead -- signaling the arrival of the president on campus.